Grizelda "Zelda" Houston Hull was born on August 22, 1878 in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of George Huntington Hull (president of the American Pig Iron Warrant Storage Company) and Lucia Eugenie Houston Hull. Grizelda was the granddaughter of Leverett Hull and Sarah Lord Hull and also of Russell Houston and Grizelda Gilchrist Polk Houston.
On May 25, 1905 Grizelda married Richmond Pearson Hobson in Tuxedo Park, Orange County, New York and together raised three children: Richmond Pearson Hobson, Jr., Lucia Houston Hull Hobson, and George Hull Hobson.
Richmond Pearson Hobson gained fame in the Spanish-American War, later became a United States Navy Rear Admiral and served from 1906-1915 as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. Grizelda was a staunch supporter of his and often accompanied him on the campaign trail as he pursued his political interests. Her support of his political career was unwavering until she and her family came under threat by people with interests in the liquor industry in response to her husband's pursuit of nationwide Prohibition. After receiving several death threats in the mail, she urged her husband to leave politics, fearing for her children's safety. Partially credited to his wife's lack of support he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination in 1916 to the Sixty-fifth Congress. Richmond never again sought public office.
Article from The Union Journal, published by the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, vol 45, Jan 24 1918, page 11:
"MRS. RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON ACCEPTS SUPERTINTENDENCY OF DEPARTMENT OF WORK AMONG SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
The National W. C. T. U. feels that it is to be congratulated upon securing Mrs. Richmond Pearson Hobson to fill the office left vacant by the retirement of Mrs. Ella Hoover Thacher, for so many years the capable National superintendent of the department of Work among Soldiers and Sailors. The position was not an easy one to fill, but in the wife of "the hero of the Merrimac", Mrs. Thacher has a worthy successor. Mrs. Hobson is not only in close touch with the temperance reform but has a live interest in the activities that are being put forth for the physical and moral welfare of the boys of the Navy and Army. She brings to the department leadership an exuberant enthusiasm and a splendid determination that will surmount every obstacle."
The Hobson's moved to Los Angeles but returned to New York City in the 1930's. On March 16, 1937, Richmond died of a heart attack. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a full ceremonial service that included a 13 gun salute. Grizelda later relayed, "It was not sad like a funeral but like some great triumphal procession."
In 1938, daughter Lucia married William Earl Dodge Stokes, Jr and son George married Miss Felice Harriman Rosen. (George and Felice's ended in divorce in 1943 and George remarried to Kate Evangeline Jones in 1952.)
After Grizelda's father died in 1940 and her mother in 1943. Grizelda left New York to live with her son, Richmond "Rich" Pearson Hobson, Jr. in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada. Grizelda's youngest son, George Hull Hobson, joined them in 1945 after returning from assignment working for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in Yugoslavia. Grizelda would live on and off at her son Rich and daughter-in-law Gloria McIntosh Hobon's ranch until her death in November 1966. Grizelda passed away at the age of 88 on November 14, 1966 while residing with her son George who had relocated to Churchville, Augusta County, Virginia. Her eldest son, Rich, proceeded her in death by 3 months, dying of a heart attack as his father did.
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Obituary clipped From 1966 unsourced newspaper and was provided by Findagrave member John Smolarek:
"Mrs. R.P. Hobson Dies; Hero's Widow
Greensboro - Mrs. Grizelda Hull Hobson, widow of Rear Adm. Richmond Pearson Hobson, died last week in Churchville, Va. She was 88.
Admiral Hobson was one of the naval heroes of the Spanish-American War and his ancestral home, "Magnolia Grove," in Greensboro is now a shrine.
Mrs. Hobson was writing a book about her husband's life in the navy at the time of her death.
She was the great-granddaughter of Gen. Thomas Polk who was on the staff of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. She married Admiral Hobson in 1905. He died in 1937.
Mrs. Hobson christened the destroyer Hobson, named in her husband's honor, in 1941.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. W. E. D. Stokes, Jr. of Lenox, Mass.; a son, George H. Hobson of Churchville, Va.; two brothers, George Hull of Short Hills, N.J.; and Russell Hull of Palm Beach, Fla.; a sister, Lucia Hull of Victoria, B.C.; and four grandchildren."
Grizelda Houston Hull Hobson is buried beside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.
On May 25, 1905 Grizelda married Richmond Pearson Hobson in Tuxedo Park, Orange County, New York and together raised three children: Richmond Pearson Hobson, Jr., Lucia Houston Hull Hobson, and George Hull Hobson.
Richmond Pearson Hobson gained fame in the Spanish-American War, later became a United States Navy Rear Admiral and served from 1906-1915 as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. Grizelda was a staunch supporter of his and often accompanied him on the campaign trail as he pursued his political interests. Her support of his political career was unwavering until she and her family came under threat by people with interests in the liquor industry in response to her husband's pursuit of nationwide Prohibition. After receiving several death threats in the mail, she urged her husband to leave politics, fearing for her children's safety. Partially credited to his wife's lack of support he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination in 1916 to the Sixty-fifth Congress. Richmond never again sought public office.
Article from The Union Journal, published by the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, vol 45, Jan 24 1918, page 11:
"MRS. RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON ACCEPTS SUPERTINTENDENCY OF DEPARTMENT OF WORK AMONG SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
The National W. C. T. U. feels that it is to be congratulated upon securing Mrs. Richmond Pearson Hobson to fill the office left vacant by the retirement of Mrs. Ella Hoover Thacher, for so many years the capable National superintendent of the department of Work among Soldiers and Sailors. The position was not an easy one to fill, but in the wife of "the hero of the Merrimac", Mrs. Thacher has a worthy successor. Mrs. Hobson is not only in close touch with the temperance reform but has a live interest in the activities that are being put forth for the physical and moral welfare of the boys of the Navy and Army. She brings to the department leadership an exuberant enthusiasm and a splendid determination that will surmount every obstacle."
The Hobson's moved to Los Angeles but returned to New York City in the 1930's. On March 16, 1937, Richmond died of a heart attack. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a full ceremonial service that included a 13 gun salute. Grizelda later relayed, "It was not sad like a funeral but like some great triumphal procession."
In 1938, daughter Lucia married William Earl Dodge Stokes, Jr and son George married Miss Felice Harriman Rosen. (George and Felice's ended in divorce in 1943 and George remarried to Kate Evangeline Jones in 1952.)
After Grizelda's father died in 1940 and her mother in 1943. Grizelda left New York to live with her son, Richmond "Rich" Pearson Hobson, Jr. in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada. Grizelda's youngest son, George Hull Hobson, joined them in 1945 after returning from assignment working for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in Yugoslavia. Grizelda would live on and off at her son Rich and daughter-in-law Gloria McIntosh Hobon's ranch until her death in November 1966. Grizelda passed away at the age of 88 on November 14, 1966 while residing with her son George who had relocated to Churchville, Augusta County, Virginia. Her eldest son, Rich, proceeded her in death by 3 months, dying of a heart attack as his father did.
--
Obituary clipped From 1966 unsourced newspaper and was provided by Findagrave member John Smolarek:
"Mrs. R.P. Hobson Dies; Hero's Widow
Greensboro - Mrs. Grizelda Hull Hobson, widow of Rear Adm. Richmond Pearson Hobson, died last week in Churchville, Va. She was 88.
Admiral Hobson was one of the naval heroes of the Spanish-American War and his ancestral home, "Magnolia Grove," in Greensboro is now a shrine.
Mrs. Hobson was writing a book about her husband's life in the navy at the time of her death.
She was the great-granddaughter of Gen. Thomas Polk who was on the staff of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. She married Admiral Hobson in 1905. He died in 1937.
Mrs. Hobson christened the destroyer Hobson, named in her husband's honor, in 1941.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. W. E. D. Stokes, Jr. of Lenox, Mass.; a son, George H. Hobson of Churchville, Va.; two brothers, George Hull of Short Hills, N.J.; and Russell Hull of Palm Beach, Fla.; a sister, Lucia Hull of Victoria, B.C.; and four grandchildren."
Grizelda Houston Hull Hobson is buried beside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.
Grizelda "Zelda" Houston Hull was born on August 22, 1878 in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of George Huntington Hull (president of the American Pig Iron Warrant Storage Company) and Lucia Eugenie Houston Hull. Grizelda was the granddaughter of Leverett Hull and Sarah Lord Hull and also of Russell Houston and Grizelda Gilchrist Polk Houston.
On May 25, 1905 Grizelda married Richmond Pearson Hobson in Tuxedo Park, Orange County, New York and together raised three children: Richmond Pearson Hobson, Jr., Lucia Houston Hull Hobson, and George Hull Hobson.
Richmond Pearson Hobson gained fame in the Spanish-American War, later became a United States Navy Rear Admiral and served from 1906-1915 as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. Grizelda was a staunch supporter of his and often accompanied him on the campaign trail as he pursued his political interests. Her support of his political career was unwavering until she and her family came under threat by people with interests in the liquor industry in response to her husband's pursuit of nationwide Prohibition. After receiving several death threats in the mail, she urged her husband to leave politics, fearing for her children's safety. Partially credited to his wife's lack of support he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination in 1916 to the Sixty-fifth Congress. Richmond never again sought public office.
Article from The Union Journal, published by the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, vol 45, Jan 24 1918, page 11:
"MRS. RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON ACCEPTS SUPERTINTENDENCY OF DEPARTMENT OF WORK AMONG SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
The National W. C. T. U. feels that it is to be congratulated upon securing Mrs. Richmond Pearson Hobson to fill the office left vacant by the retirement of Mrs. Ella Hoover Thacher, for so many years the capable National superintendent of the department of Work among Soldiers and Sailors. The position was not an easy one to fill, but in the wife of "the hero of the Merrimac", Mrs. Thacher has a worthy successor. Mrs. Hobson is not only in close touch with the temperance reform but has a live interest in the activities that are being put forth for the physical and moral welfare of the boys of the Navy and Army. She brings to the department leadership an exuberant enthusiasm and a splendid determination that will surmount every obstacle."
The Hobson's moved to Los Angeles but returned to New York City in the 1930's. On March 16, 1937, Richmond died of a heart attack. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a full ceremonial service that included a 13 gun salute. Grizelda later relayed, "It was not sad like a funeral but like some great triumphal procession."
In 1938, daughter Lucia married William Earl Dodge Stokes, Jr and son George married Miss Felice Harriman Rosen. (George and Felice's ended in divorce in 1943 and George remarried to Kate Evangeline Jones in 1952.)
After Grizelda's father died in 1940 and her mother in 1943. Grizelda left New York to live with her son, Richmond "Rich" Pearson Hobson, Jr. in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada. Grizelda's youngest son, George Hull Hobson, joined them in 1945 after returning from assignment working for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in Yugoslavia. Grizelda would live on and off at her son Rich and daughter-in-law Gloria McIntosh Hobon's ranch until her death in November 1966. Grizelda passed away at the age of 88 on November 14, 1966 while residing with her son George who had relocated to Churchville, Augusta County, Virginia. Her eldest son, Rich, proceeded her in death by 3 months, dying of a heart attack as his father did.
--
Obituary clipped From 1966 unsourced newspaper and was provided by Findagrave member John Smolarek:
"Mrs. R.P. Hobson Dies; Hero's Widow
Greensboro - Mrs. Grizelda Hull Hobson, widow of Rear Adm. Richmond Pearson Hobson, died last week in Churchville, Va. She was 88.
Admiral Hobson was one of the naval heroes of the Spanish-American War and his ancestral home, "Magnolia Grove," in Greensboro is now a shrine.
Mrs. Hobson was writing a book about her husband's life in the navy at the time of her death.
She was the great-granddaughter of Gen. Thomas Polk who was on the staff of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. She married Admiral Hobson in 1905. He died in 1937.
Mrs. Hobson christened the destroyer Hobson, named in her husband's honor, in 1941.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. W. E. D. Stokes, Jr. of Lenox, Mass.; a son, George H. Hobson of Churchville, Va.; two brothers, George Hull of Short Hills, N.J.; and Russell Hull of Palm Beach, Fla.; a sister, Lucia Hull of Victoria, B.C.; and four grandchildren."
Grizelda Houston Hull Hobson is buried beside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.
On May 25, 1905 Grizelda married Richmond Pearson Hobson in Tuxedo Park, Orange County, New York and together raised three children: Richmond Pearson Hobson, Jr., Lucia Houston Hull Hobson, and George Hull Hobson.
Richmond Pearson Hobson gained fame in the Spanish-American War, later became a United States Navy Rear Admiral and served from 1906-1915 as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. Grizelda was a staunch supporter of his and often accompanied him on the campaign trail as he pursued his political interests. Her support of his political career was unwavering until she and her family came under threat by people with interests in the liquor industry in response to her husband's pursuit of nationwide Prohibition. After receiving several death threats in the mail, she urged her husband to leave politics, fearing for her children's safety. Partially credited to his wife's lack of support he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination in 1916 to the Sixty-fifth Congress. Richmond never again sought public office.
Article from The Union Journal, published by the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, vol 45, Jan 24 1918, page 11:
"MRS. RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON ACCEPTS SUPERTINTENDENCY OF DEPARTMENT OF WORK AMONG SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
The National W. C. T. U. feels that it is to be congratulated upon securing Mrs. Richmond Pearson Hobson to fill the office left vacant by the retirement of Mrs. Ella Hoover Thacher, for so many years the capable National superintendent of the department of Work among Soldiers and Sailors. The position was not an easy one to fill, but in the wife of "the hero of the Merrimac", Mrs. Thacher has a worthy successor. Mrs. Hobson is not only in close touch with the temperance reform but has a live interest in the activities that are being put forth for the physical and moral welfare of the boys of the Navy and Army. She brings to the department leadership an exuberant enthusiasm and a splendid determination that will surmount every obstacle."
The Hobson's moved to Los Angeles but returned to New York City in the 1930's. On March 16, 1937, Richmond died of a heart attack. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a full ceremonial service that included a 13 gun salute. Grizelda later relayed, "It was not sad like a funeral but like some great triumphal procession."
In 1938, daughter Lucia married William Earl Dodge Stokes, Jr and son George married Miss Felice Harriman Rosen. (George and Felice's ended in divorce in 1943 and George remarried to Kate Evangeline Jones in 1952.)
After Grizelda's father died in 1940 and her mother in 1943. Grizelda left New York to live with her son, Richmond "Rich" Pearson Hobson, Jr. in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada. Grizelda's youngest son, George Hull Hobson, joined them in 1945 after returning from assignment working for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in Yugoslavia. Grizelda would live on and off at her son Rich and daughter-in-law Gloria McIntosh Hobon's ranch until her death in November 1966. Grizelda passed away at the age of 88 on November 14, 1966 while residing with her son George who had relocated to Churchville, Augusta County, Virginia. Her eldest son, Rich, proceeded her in death by 3 months, dying of a heart attack as his father did.
--
Obituary clipped From 1966 unsourced newspaper and was provided by Findagrave member John Smolarek:
"Mrs. R.P. Hobson Dies; Hero's Widow
Greensboro - Mrs. Grizelda Hull Hobson, widow of Rear Adm. Richmond Pearson Hobson, died last week in Churchville, Va. She was 88.
Admiral Hobson was one of the naval heroes of the Spanish-American War and his ancestral home, "Magnolia Grove," in Greensboro is now a shrine.
Mrs. Hobson was writing a book about her husband's life in the navy at the time of her death.
She was the great-granddaughter of Gen. Thomas Polk who was on the staff of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. She married Admiral Hobson in 1905. He died in 1937.
Mrs. Hobson christened the destroyer Hobson, named in her husband's honor, in 1941.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. W. E. D. Stokes, Jr. of Lenox, Mass.; a son, George H. Hobson of Churchville, Va.; two brothers, George Hull of Short Hills, N.J.; and Russell Hull of Palm Beach, Fla.; a sister, Lucia Hull of Victoria, B.C.; and four grandchildren."
Grizelda Houston Hull Hobson is buried beside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.
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